I present, “Mush Runes”.
I love wordplay, and the contrast between malleability(mush) and solidity (runes) is the result.
This piece is inspired by my spiritual awakening andKundalini journey, as well as guidance from various people who have taught me along this developing Life Story.
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Each of the mushrooms represents the seven main chakras located along the spine. Across from each respective mushroom, is a material that is commonly associated with each Chakra.

Red is the Root Chakra, embedded in Groundedness and Survival. It is located at the base of your spine.

Orange is the Sacral Chakra and is nestled in your navel center. It is associated with Creation, Sensuality, and Desire.

Yellow is the Solar Plexus Chakra and home of the Ego, and source of Willpower. It is located just under your sternum.

Green radiates from the Heart Chakra, located right in the center of your chest. It is associated with Healing, Trust, and Love.

Blue is the Throat Chakra, where our resonations become manifestations. It is associated with Self-Expression, Communication, and Authenticity.

Indigo is the Third Eye Chakra, sitting between and just above your eyebrows. This is associated with Intuition, Self-Awareness, Wisdom, and Imagination.

Violet beams from the Crown Chakra, connecting us with the Divine, Spirituality, and Higher Consciousness.

 As we go further along the hierarchy of mushrooms, they become more dream-like and divine, and so do each of their respective materials. The higher we go, the less grounded things appear; but that doesn’t have to be bad.

What do you see?

At the beginning of November 2024, I revisited this drawing, adding new textures and details that reflected where my mind was at that moment.

I made some changes to this as well.

For the second mushroom’s corresponding concept, I gave the vesica coins an auric glow. I strengthened my relationship with the duality of my being, positives, and negatives, masculine and feminine.

The third mushroom still represents the Manipura chakra and the energy ego, however, I made it appear more like a stomach, to make a stronger visual connection than I had before. It also appears more sickly, as I acknowledge the struggles I’ve had with my ego and my relationship with money.

For the heart concept, I’ve added dark veins to the heart. My grandmother’s (G-Mama) health worsened, and not appearinig to get better. I was feeling a bit of anger, resentment and denial, despite doing fairly well in coming to grips with it over time. Combined with my other challenges at the time, I felt like closing my heart off again.

For the fifth chakra, I changed the mouth on the mushroom a bit. It’s sharper and steaming with energy. Both a desire to use my words to hurt, but also to express my pain and joys. For its corresponding concept, I both froze and inflamed the piano keys. Sometimes I get fired up making music, other times I feel it’s a cold journey where I feel stagnant and unachieved.

For the third eye mushroom, I made the eyes more alien and for its corresponding concept of the window, I’ve added the backdrop of the cosmos. I still resonate with the concept of it being the window to the soul, however, I’m making an effort to see the deeper recesses of my being, which gives way for me to see the concept of the infinite in myself and an opportunity to see it in others.